Russia hopes for Armenia’s return to full-fledged cooperation in CSTO

Russia hopes to resume the full-fledged partnership with Armenia within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a news briefing, Report informs via TASS.

"We hope that for the sake of future security of a friendly country and the entire region in general, our partnership with Armenia within the CSTO framework will fully resume," she noted. "We confirm that at this point doors are open for Yerevan’s return to full-fledged cooperation in the CSTO," the diplomat explained.

The diplomat stressed that Russia does not call into question the sovereign right of any country to chart its independent course, including with regard to CSTO events. "De jure, Yerevan remains a full-fledged member of the CSTO which remains the single mechanism ensuring peace and stability in the South Caucasus," she stressed. "Armenia retains all its rights and obligations therein," Zakharova added.